Tree holder



H. E. BUTLER Feb. 17, 1931.

TREE HOLDER 7 Filed Nov.

m m w 6 -2 spectively,of the upper end of one of the arms ing-it down into-the holder. -The lowering 75 13 metal arms 2, each provided at its upper end an inspection of Fig. 2, the lower ends 0 l .3 with each other and formed'by bending aJthe tree trunk. As this action occurs the 5 tending prong.

" that they serve both as braces and also as gripping rela io sh pl 95 Patented Feb. 17, 1931 v I p r ,7 r

Y OFF ICE,

I r TREE nomina r I Application filed Itoveinber 2 5; 1 927.lSerial No. 235,483.

This invention relates to devices for suphas four split studs or snap fasteners 7 seportingtrees such as those used at Christmas cured thereto, and the lower end of each leg 5 and for decorative purposes. is turned outwardly and is provided with an It is the chief object of the invention to aperture to receive the fastener 7 '5 devise an article'of this character which will Encircling the arms 2 immediately below be convenient to use, will present a pleasing their connection with the legs 5 is a locking do appearance, and which still can be manufacring or clasp 8 which may conveniently be tured economically. made otheavy relatively stiif wire provided The nature of the invention will be readily with rubber sleeves 9 to bear against the 1,0 understood from the following description arms 2, the sections of the wire on which the when read in connection with the accoinpanysleeves are mounted being straight. ing drawings, and the novel features will be In usingthe device the lower part or butt particularly pointed out in the appended .portion ofthe tree trunk is inserted between claims. g V the arms 2 and the end face of the butt rests In the drawings, 7 I 101i therhorizonta l portions of the arms and 55 Figure 1 is a plan view of a holder conisheld in a centered position-by the prong structed in accordance with this invention, 4. It will be observed that the tree is supsome of the parts being shown as broken ported'by the lower portions of the arms, away; 7 V and if it is fairly heavy itsweightwill tend .2 Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in cross. to depress allfour of the arms 2. If the tree 7 section, of the device shown in Fig. 1; is small, as for example, of the size com- Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line monly used in a home for a Christmastree, aa, Fig. 1; 7 this depressing'movement may he produced .Figs. 4 and 5 are sideand plan views, re-

grasping thebutt of the tree and presswhich grip the tree trunk; and V movement of the arms produced in this Fig. dis a plan view of'the clasp which manner will cause the upper ends of the locks the device in its tree holding position. .inclined legs 5 to swing inwardly to- The device shown includes four upright ward each other, as will be evident from with an inturnedextremity3which is pointed of the legs being supported by the base or toothed, as clearly shown in Figs.'2 and 4t. ,6 against spreading movement. This, in Preferably these arms are arranged in two turn, will forcethe teeth 3 at the upward pairs, the members of each pair being integral extremities of these arms into the sides of strip of metal into a U-shape, these two clasp 8 drops down onthe arms 2 by gravity U-shaped members then being secured toand locks themsecurely in their tree gripgether at their lower ends by a stud t, ping position, Itshould be noted that the Fig. 2, shaped to provide an upwardly ex- U-sha,p'ed members which lnclude the arms 2 are slightly wider at their lower ends than 9'0 Secured to each of the arms 2 at a point attheir central portions. In other words, intermediate its length is an inclined leg 5, that they taper gradually so that as the clasp one leg being provided for each arm, and the 8 slides'downwardlyit soon strikes a point lower ends of the legs being spread apart so. where it sticks and locks the arms in their supports for the arms. The lower ends of .gMost ofthe trees withwhich a device of these legs are removably secured to a base 6 ith srcharacter s used are relatively small which preferably consists of a small mat or ,soth'atit is necessary to push them down rug made of linoleum or other suitablemateinto theholder 1n order to cause the holder rial. As shown in the drawings, the base 6 to. grip themw Consequently,.in;order to re-' mo lease such a tree it is simply necessary to slide the clasp 8 upwardly, thus permitting the upper ends of the arms 2 to spring outwardly and release the tree trunk. It can then be lifted out of the holder.

It will now be evident that the invention provides a tree holder of a very simple construction which can be manufactured economically and which will support the tree firmly in an upright position. The holder can be made in any suitable size and an individual holder will support and grip a considerable variety or" sizes of tree trunks. The base or mat 6 can be decorated appropriately so that the entire device will present an attractive appearance.

lVhile I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of any invention, it is contemplated that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a tree holder, the combination of a plurality of upwardly extending arms having parts connected together at the lower ends of said arms, and forming a support for the lower end of a tree butt, said arms having teeth at their upper ends to engage the sides of the tree trunk, inclined legs supporting said arms, and means for supporting said legs against spreading.

2. In a tree holder, the combination of a plurality of upwardly extendingarms connected together at their lower ends to provide a support for the lower end of a tree butt and being spaced around said butt, said arms having inwardly directed teeth at-their upper ends to engage the sides of the tree trunk, inclined legs supporting said arms and fastened to the arms at points intermediate their length, a support for limiting the spreading movement of said legs, and a lockig clasp encircling said arms and slidable vertically on them.

3. In a tree holder, the combination of a plurality of upwardly extending arms connected together at their lower ends to provide a support for the lower end of a tree butt and being spaced around said butt, said arms having inwardly directed teeth at their upper ends to engage the sides of the tree trunk, inclined legs supporting said arms and fastened to the arms at points intermediate their len 'th, and a mat having means for detachably fastening the lower ends of said legs thereto.

4. In a tree holder, the combination of two substantially upright U-shaped members arranged at right angles to each other and connected togetherat their lower ends to form a support for the lower end of a tree butt, said arms being spaced around the tree trunk and the upper ends of said arms having inwardly directed teeth to penetrate the sides of the trunk, inclined legs secured, respectively, to said arms at points intermediate their length, a base for connecting the lower ends of said legs together, and a locking clasp slidable on said arms below their point of connection with said legs.

5. In a tree holder, the combination of a plurality of upwardly extending arms having parts connected together at the lower ends of said arms and forming a support for the lower end of a tree butt, said arms having teeth at their upper ends to engage the sides of the tree trunk, inclined legs fastened to said arms and supporting the arms, and a locking clasp encircling said arms and slidable vertically on them.

HARRY E. BUTLER. 

